Coronavirus In Minnesota: 21 Cases, Including Dakota County Teen

TWIN CITIES, MN — The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus known as COVID-19 jumped to 21 in Minnesota Saturday. The cases are now in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Olmsted, Ramsey, Renville, Stearns, and Wright.

Eight days have passed since Minnesota's first COVID-19 case was confirmed. A total of 868 patients have been tested so far. No deaths have occurred.

Among the seven cases that were confirmed Friday is a teen from Dakota County, reports KARE 11.

Also on Friday, Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime state of emergency in Minnesota over the spread of COVID-19. "The safety and well-being of Minnesotans is my top priority and we are working around the clock to combat the spread of COVID-19," Walz said in a statement

"I am declaring a peacetime emergency in Minnesota to ensure the State is able respond to more rapidly to issues as they arrive. We're looking to the future and preparing for the next chapters of this pandemic as it continues to evolve."

Walz also sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence asking the federal government to increase Minnesota’s access to COVID-19 testing kits, and all the supplies needed to conduct those tests, to a minimum of 15,000 tests per month.

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This letter was a follow-up to Walz's request during a March 12 phone call with Pence.

"The ability to test and diagnose cases of COVID-19 is critical to Minnesota’s response and mitigation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," Walz wrote.

"We have been forced to ration the number of tests performed at our public health lab,” continues the letter. “I call upon you to help ensure we appropriately prevent and mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic."

New strategies announced

The Minnesota Department of Health Friday announced a series of community-level strategies recommended to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota communities. Event organizers have been called on to cancel or postpone gatherings with 250 or more people.

Guthrie Theater Cancels Performances

Those who have tickets to the canceled performances can donate or exchange them, or ask for a refund.

Robbinsdale Schools Close

A Robbinsdale parent was around someone who was confirmed to have the coronavirus.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities case confirmed

The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed that a University of Minnesota-Twin Cities student tested positive for COVID-19. University president Joan Gabel announced the news in a note to students, faculty, and staff Friday.

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